NEWSLETTER
To find more great information from the Sarpy/Cass Maternal Child Services nurses - check out our MCH NEWSLETTER. You can also find and follow us on Facebook (@SarpyCassMCH).

FREE BREASTFEEDING CLASS
This class is taught by Katie Graves, a Public Health Nurse and Certified Lactation Counselor, who specializes in mothers and babies. Come learn the basics of breastfeeding as you prepare for your baby’s arrival. Teaching will focus on what to expect at the hospital, the importance of skin-to-skin, signs of a good latch, how to know when baby is hungry, and how to prepare yourself to be at home with baby after discharge from the hospital. Please bring your partner or support person. Refreshments provided.

FREE PRENATAL CLASSES
The Sarpy/Cass Health Department is offering a new prenatal education program. Free classes on healthy pregnancy and newborn care are available at locations in Sarpy and Cass Counties.

Classes are based on a curriculum from the March of Dimes called “Becoming a Mom™”, and they are taught by the Health Department’s experienced maternal child nurses. There are six classes in the series, and participants may attend any classes they choose, in any order.

Topics for each class include:

Class1: Introduction and Prenatal Care and Testing

Class 2: Pregnancy Nutrition

Class 3: Stress and Things to Avoid During Pregnancy

Class 4: Labor and Delivery

Class 5: Newborn Care and Breastfeeding

Class 6: Postpartum Care

For class dates, times, and location, and to register, visit the Health Department event calendar. For questions or more information, please contact the Maternal Child Health Nurses, Michelle Leahy or Katie Graves.

Maternal Child Home Visiting
Maternal child nurses will visit women during pregnancy and postpartum to help get new moms and babies off to the best start possible. Our program uses a curriculum called Growing Great Kids™, which is a strengths-based approach to developing a nurturing parent-child relationship essential to early childhood development. The curriculum includes child development activities, as well as family-centered modules that can be chosen to best meet individual families’ goals.

Breastfeeding Support Services
Our Maternal Child Health Nurses are Certified Lactation Counselors with experience helping many women successfully breastfeed. Lactation support is available via individual in-office consultation, community breastfeeding support groups, and workplace lactation support programs. Breastfeeding has been shown to provide numerous benefits, both to babies who are breastfed and to their mothers.

Several federal and Nebraska laws exist regarding worksite lactation. You can access the federal law and Nebraska state law here. For a sample worksite policy supporting breastfeeding employees, click here. If your business in already a breastfeeding-friendly place to work, you can nominate yourself for the Breastfeeding-Friendly Business Award given by the Nebraska Breastfeeding Coalition. Access their website here to get started. The Maternal Child Health Nurses at the Sarpy/Cass Health Department are happy to answer any questions you have about supporting breastfeeding in the workplace.”

Classes and Community Education
Education and support on a variety of pregnancy- and parenting-related topics is available through the Sarpy/Cass Health Department's Maternal Child Health program. Common topics include: having a healthy pregnancy, well-child visits and immunizations, breastfeeding benefits, and tobacco-free pregnancy. Classes and presentations can also be developed to meet a range of needs or interests.

The maternal child health program provides support services to families during pregnancy and parenting. Services include:

A home visitation program providing support and education from Registered Nurses